XFX 8800 ULTRA XXX Problem

[Neil-UKWSD]

Hi,

Having read this I am a little concerned as I have ordered the XFX 8800 Ultra XXX for my new system, am now debating changing this for either:

BFG Technology 8800 Ultra OC
EVGA 8800 Ultra, KO
EVGA 8800Ultra, Superclocked

[slickric21]

If I could go back in time and choose another card I would definatley.

I'm a member on Nvidia forums and x2 more people have had the same problem with this very same card - not too mention the other guy in this thread a few posts up.

XFX tech support is little more than a joke compared to BFG & EVGA. And if you did have a problem and sent it back to Scan they wouldn't even test it properly for you - before charging you an arm and a leg to send it back, nice litle money spinner for scan, not too good for you.

On the other hand I may have just been really unlucky..............................

[GoNz0]

you can ask scan to send it back to the maker if your not happy with there testing service, i even have an email from POV stating that scan do not have any equipment to test video cards other than a power up test. I was asked to email this to scan with my RMA so they would ship to POV.

regardless your entitled to a refund as XFX admit fault as they asked you to downclock it, best advice is to email scan with this info, they dont have a leg to stand on if XFX told you to downclock the card, its the same as admitting fault.

[Chris_MaDmAx]

hi all, am new to the forums. I decided to sign up as i having been looking on almost every forum with threads talking about all the problems that the XFX 8800 ultra has, like many others i'm in the same boat. I ordered it along with the rest of a new PC from Scan. I'm not 100% sure what to do.

Just a few questions:

1. Does any of the other branded 8800 ultra's have the same porblem as the XFX one?

2. If the other branded versions of this model are okay, which one do ppl recommend i swap it in for?

3. when i phone Scan about this, will they replace it okay, i have all the parts still as i only put in my PC friday.

thank you guys

[slickric21]

Hi Chris,

really sorry to hear about your problems mate with the XFX ultra xxx,

I can only advise you what happend to me, as detailed in above post I sent the card back to scan, but they found no fault.
In my opinion this was because they didn't test the card properly - doing a too short test (by 10:30 am the same day they booked the RMA in they had rejected it) and have now sent it back to me. They also tested it in an open case, so I think it kept cooler than in "normal" conditions eg in a closed case.
When I get the card back tomorrow I will test it with the side of my case off to see what happens.

your choices/options........
1) If you want to get your card stable - down clock the core to 675 mhz and if it still freezes down clock the memory to 2290mhz - use either Rivatuner/ ntune
2) return to Scan, but make sure you specify that you want the card testing for a long period -
3)open a support ticket with XFX - from thier website
4)go to bjorn3d forums and in the XFX support forum start a thread detailing your problems and you should get good help from the moderator there who is currently helping me also
5)cool your case as much as you can - i have installed extra fans in my case and to blow on the card & have the temps down to 26c at load in the case which is quite good - this allowed me to game for l onger periods - up a too a few hours before the dreaded freeze.
(note cooling and downclocking should allow your to play trouble free-........ but you shouldn't have to do this IMO)
6)check your PM inbox..............................

[ukengineer]

slickric21, return to scan for a refund, buy the 8800 GTX, all the extra £££ for a few mega HURTS, is just plain and simply a rip off my arm and run situation.

XFX have admitted a problem, by telling you to downclock it, basically its just a normal card that didnt cut the mustard, and by the way, were keeping the extra £££ thanks.

[Chris_MaDmAx]

Hey slickric21

I just this second got off the phone to Scan and told them everything about the card. The guy i spoke to was very helpful and totally understood what i was talking about and said i should go for a GTX as the Ultra is just a overclocked GTX, and the only way the card will work proper is to underclocked or run it in a water cooled system.

He said wasn't worth testing as i'm still within my 7 day return, and should just send it back as long as i had all the bits and box for it, and just get a refund on it and reorder a new card of my choice.

Tbh i really wanted this card when i frist looked it up but after sending almost every night looking online on how to sort the card i'm so sick of it now, Just found it crazy how i finally send a large amount of money on a card i could get and it ends up being so much hassle.

Now the question is ....which GTX do i get, my old card was a XFX 6800 GT and it still works perfect but after this hassle with this card i might look into another make, or is this card just bad luck lol

thanx for the msg and post

will update you with what card i end up getting, also i would love to know how you get on with yours mate.

[slickric21]

Hey Good news on you part.

I too logged my fault within the 7 day period but didn't get the same deal - exchange for another card which I would have snapped taken obviously after seeing all the problems with these XFX cards people are having.
I got my card back today and yup it still freezes

I'm waitng on XFX

As for an 8800 gtx - i'g go for an EVGA one they seem to be the best company in many eyes for nvidia cards.

Well good result,
Enjoy your new card when you decide which one

[elmes100]

Hi,

just to let you know I have the EXACT same problem with my new MSI 8800 GTX Ultra OverClocked Edition card: 660 core / 1500 shader / 2300 mem.
Cost me £457 from Novatech - wtf!!

Playing BF2 for 20 mins causes screen to flicker and sound pulses and then Windows ultimately dies. If you catch it quick enough and get back to windows with alt-tab, you can carry on in 2d mode fine but it needs a reboot for 3d again ie. it never recovers from the condition.

I read either on this thread or another one to resolve the problem by reducing the memory speed to 2200mhz from 2300 and I have done this and so far so good.

I'm pretty miffed about the situ as the card was so expensive, but I really cannot be ar..ed for Novatech to test it for 10 mins and say it is fine (like Scan).
I am getting approx 100fps in bf2 at 2560x1600 with everything high and 4xAA, so I am a fairly happy bunny.

PS. It's defo not heat (in my naive view) as altho mine idles hot at about 65/70 in windows, it only goes up to 75/80 playing 3d game. Having said that it's strange that I tried with side panel off PC and was fine (hmmm). I guess there may be a component overheating that the temp sensor is remote from. I guess the sensor is just on the GPU chip yeah? Maybe the ram chips are overheating from the 2300mhz speed.


Can someone tell me if there is a useful log created by the Nvidia driver or where I access it from so that I can provide info to MSI if I raise a ticket. If the driver dll crashes, you'd expect some useful log message giving a clue as to why it's shutting down/crashing (I'm new to Nvidia driver thanks).

I'm putting my money (what's left of it lol) on a driver fix.
Thanks Regards...

[parad0x]

I am in the exact same situation with my EVGA 8800 Ultra SuperClocked. EXACT symptoms as elmes100 just described.

Mine is on its way back to Scan and will be with them on Monday. I included a note with specific requests that it be tested for a considerable amount of time, and that they test it with Far Cry, as that game crashes it within 10-20 mins of playing. Other games do crash, but take longer. Sometimes I could play very long sessions without problems if I was lucky.

I'll let you know how I get on, but I will be very cross if Scan tells me it's not faulty. This thread and several others basically verify that there IS a problem.

I'm having to suffer with an old Voodoo 3 in my brand new system until I get a replacement GeForce.

[MetalRush]

@ elmes100: you can use Everest to log your temps and fan-speeds during games/apps/whatever.
I did that myself and saw that the mem-temps are getting rather hot.
The GPU temp itself isn't a problem (I think) but the card is way overrated... it shouldn't be out on the market (with the same stock cooler as all other 8800 GTX and beyond).
I am lucky with my store. After having this one swapped 2 times already, they are willing to swap it (again) for an Asus 8800 Ultra (which isn't in stock atm... lucky me :|).

@ Neil-UKWSD: go for the eVGA ones (either). I also read about problems with the BFG's (if this problem was the card itself or not, was not clear to me) but the service you get @ eVGA seems to be excellent (so I heard/read). You can even trade in your old eVGA-card for a new one (like buying a new car). This is a once in a lifetime deal tho... (altho, your brother/sister/parents/neighbors/etc also have eVGA cards... don't they ).

[Philipp]

slickric21

If the card will not run at default speeds then imo its faulty let me know if you need another RMA I will personally test the card.

Best Regards

[GoNz0]

might be an idea pulling these known faulty units from sale scan?

its only going to cost in the long run shipping units around..

[Neil-UKWSD]

@ Neil-UKWSD: go for the eVGA ones (either). I also read about problems with the BFG's (if this problem was the card itself or not, was not clear to me) but the service you get @ eVGA seems to be excellent (so I heard/read). You can even trade in your old eVGA-card for a new one (like buying a new car). This is a once in a lifetime deal tho... (altho, your brother/sister/parents/neighbors/etc also have eVGA cards... don't they ).

I've gone for the eVGA Superclocked, though seeing the post above does not fill me with confidence here either.

It's with citylink now awaiting delivery monday, I bet I miss them again and end up having to collect it! Very busy week this next week with appointments and daughters 5th b'day!

[parad0x]

@Neil: Sorry to have maybe caused a bit of worry for you with my post. I really hope your new card turns out to be alright because that would be a bit of hope for me.

I've been reading EVGA's forums quite a lot and I don't see too many posts specifically regarding problems with the Superclocked model so I hope I've just been unlucky (though there are a lot of reports of even GTXs showing the freezing symptoms on many forums). EVGA seems like a good company; even the packaging for the card was sophisticated and professional. Very well presented, etc, I was impressed when I received it.

I just want one that works without problems!

Philipp: bearing in mind what's been said in this thread, would you mind taking a look at my card when it arrives at Scan on Monday? It'd be nice to be able to speak to someone one-to-one about it.

[EarlGrey]

This sort of thing happens all too frequently, and I wish there was something more we could do about it.

In all honesty, I think you will get the same experience (or a much better one at the moment...) with a vanilla 8800GTX. But that's not the point. You wanted the faster card, and have been told that the only way to make it work is to slow it down!

Have you thought about complaining to the trading standards authority? You have been sold a product that cannot do what it is advertised to do under normal conditions of use. This is fraud. (But more to the point it is a pain in the backside.)